Wall nut and bolt assemblies

Abstract

A tubular stem ( 14 ) at one end of a nut mount ( 10 ) is inserted into an opening (O) in a wall (W) and is expanded to connect it to the wall (W). An annular collar or space ( 16 ) contacts the wall (W) where it immediately surrounds the opening (O). A clip-on nut ( 12 ) is clipped onto a nut receptor ( 18 ) that is endwise outwardly of the collar ( 16 ). A pushing movement on the clip-on nut ( 12 ) moves catch tabs ( 54, 56 ) past diametrically opposite edge portions ( 30, 32 ) of the nut receptor ( 18 ), placing them into positions below the edge portions ( 30, 32 ) of the nut receptor ( 18 ). When the catches ( 54, 56 ) are so positioned, they hold the clip-on nut ( 12 ) on the nut receptor ( 18 ). The clip-on nut ( 12 ) may be a sealed nut. If so, catch tabs ( 54, 56 ) are positioned so that when they engage underneath portions of the edge portions ( 30, 32 ) of the nut receptor, a seal ring at the base of the clip-on nut ( 12 ) is compressed. This compressing of the seal ring ( 48 ) causes the clip-on nut to be sealed prior to connection of a bolt to the clip-on nut ( 12 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A nut mount that is connectable to a wall by use of a single circular stem opening in said wall, and is adapted for reception of a clip-on nut having side clips, said nut mount comprising: 
       a tubular stem having an outside diameter sized for close-fit insertion into said circular stem opening in said wall, and an inside diameter;  
       a collar at one end of said stem that is larger in diameter than said stem, said collar having an end surface positioned to contact said wall, about said opening in said wall, when the stem is within said stem opening in said wall; and  
       a nut receptor positioned endwise of the collar, opposite the stem, said nut receptor having a nut receiving base spaced axially from said end surface of said collar, said base having diametrically opposite edge portions that project radially outwardly from and radially overhang said collar, said edge portions being positioned to be spaced axially away from said wall when the stem is within said stem opening in said wall and the end surface of the collar is in contact with said wall about said stem opening in said wall,  
       said nut receptor having an open axial avenue into said nut receiving base on the side of the base opposite the stem;  
       whereby following connection of the nut mount to said wall, with said stem positioned within said stem opening in said wall, and the end surface of the collar contacting said wall, a said clip-on nut having side clips can be moved axially onto the nut receiving base of said nut receptor and by said clips be clipped onto said edge portions of said nut receptor.  
     
     
       2. A nut mount according to claim  1 , comprising: 
       a pair of spaced apart nut retaining flanges on the nut receiving base, said flanges projecting axially from edge portions of the base, in a direction opposite the stem, whereby a said clip-on nut can be placed on the nut receiving base between said flanges.  
     
     
       3. A nut mount according to claim  2  wherein said end surface of said collar is convex, enabling said end surface to be positioned against a concave wall surface. 
     
     
       4. A nut mount according to claim  1 , wherein said end surface of said collar is convex, enabling said end surface to be positioned against a concave wall surface. 
     
     
       5. A clip-on nut, for use with a nut receptor having diametrically opposite edge portions, said clip-on nut comprising: 
       a nut-element retainer having a base with a bottom and a pair of side clips extending axially downwardly from the bottom of the base at diametrically opposite locations on said retainer, each said side clip including a radially inwardly projecting catch, said catches being spaced axially a predetermined distance below said base; and  
       a nut-element on said nut-element retainer above said base, said nut-element being secured to the nut-element retainer by elements allowing the nut-element to float in position radially a limited amount relative to the nut-element retainer,  
       whereby the clip-on nut can be placed onto a said nut receptor and be clipped onto the diametrically opposite edge portions of the nut receptor, with the catches engaging underneath portions of said edge portions of the receptor.  
     
     
       6. A clip-on nut according to claim  5 , wherein the nut retainer includes a sealed housing that extends axially from the base, in a direction opposite from the side clips, and said nut-element is within said sealed housing, and said base includes an annular seal disposed on the underneath side of the base, between the two side clips. 
     
     
       7. A clip-on nut according to claim  5 , wherein the nut-element includes a base and an internally threaded tubular portion projecting upwardly from said base, and wherein said nut-element retainer includes retainer elements which engage the nut-element and secure it to the nut-element retainer in a manner allowing it to float in position radially a limited amount. 
     
     
       8. A clip-on nut according to claim  7 , wherein the side clips are downwardly turned flange portions of the base of the nut-element retainer, and said catches are inwardly bent portions of said flange portions. 
     
     
       9. A clip-on nut according to claim  5 , wherein the side clips are downwardly bent flange portions of the base of the nut-element retainer. 
     
     
       10. A clip-on nut according to claim  9 , wherein the catches are inwardly turned portions of said flange portions of the base of the nut-element. 
     
     
       11. A wall nut assembly, comprising: 
       a nut mount that is connectable to a wall by use of a single circular opening in the wall, said nut mount comprising:  
       a tubular stem having a first end, a second end, an outside diameter sized for close-fit insertion into the circular opening in the wall, and an inside diameter:  
       a collar at said first end of said stem, said collar having an end surface positioned to be in contact with the wall, about the opening in the wall, when the stem is within the opening in the wall, said stem extending axially from said end surface of said collar to said second end of said stem;  
       a nut receptor on said nut mount, endwise outwardly of the collar, said nut receptor having a base, said base having diametrically opposite edge portions that project radially outwardly from and radially overhang said collar, said edge portions being positioned to be spaced axially outwardly from the wall when the stem is within said opening in the wall and the end surface of the collar is in contact with the wall about the opening in the wall; and  
       a clip-on nut, comprising:  
       a nut-element retainer having a base and a pair of side clips extending axially downwardly from the base at diametrically opposite locations on said retainer, each said side clip including a radially inwardly projecting catch, said catches being spaced axially from said base a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the nut receiving base of the nut receptor on the nut mount; and  
       a nut-element on said nut-element retainer, said nut-element being secured to the nut-element retainer but allowed to float in position radially a limited amount,  
       whereby the nut mount may be connected to a wall, with the tubular stem within a circular opening in the wall and the end surface of the collar in contact with the wall, and the clip-on nut can be placed onto the nut receptor and be clipped onto the diametrically opposite edge portions of the nut receptor, with the catches on the side clips of the nut-element retainer engaging underneath portions of said edge portions of the receptor, for holding the clip-on nut onto the nut mount.  
     
     
       12. A wall nut assembly according to claim  11 , wherein the nut mount includes nut retaining flanges on the nut receiving base, said flanges projecting axially from edge portions of the base, in a direction opposite the stem, whereby the clip-on nut can be placed on the nut receiving base between said flanges. 
     
     
       13. A wall nut assembly according to claim  11 , wherein said end surface on said collar is convex, enabling said end surface to be positioned against a concave wall surface. 
     
     
       14. A wall nut assembly according to claim  11 , wherein the nut retainer includes a sealed housing that extends axially from the nut retainer base, in a direction opposite from the side clips, and said nut-element is within said housing, and said nut retainer base includes an annular seal disposed on the underneath side of said base, between the two side clips. 
     
     
       15. A wall nut assembly according to claim  11 , wherein the nut-element includes a base and an internally threaded tubular portion projecting upwardly from said nut-element base, and wherein said nut-element retainer includes retainer elements which engage the nut-element and secure it to the nut-element retainer in a manner allowing it to float in a position radially a limited amount. 
     
     
       16. A wall nut assembly according to claim  11 , wherein the side clips are downwardly turned flange portions of the base of the nut-element retainer, and said catches are inwardly bent portions of said flange portions. 
     
     
       17. A wall nut assembly according to claim  11 , wherein the side clips are downwardly bent flange portions of the base of the nut-element retainer. 
     
     
       18. A wall nut assembly according to claim  17 , wherein the catches are inwardly turned portions of said flange portions. 
     
     
       19. In combination: 
       A wall including a circular opening;  
       a nut mount that is connected to the wall by use of said circular opening in the wall, said nut mount comprising:  
       a tubular stem having an outside diameter sized for close-fit insertion into the circular opening in the wall, and an inside diameter, said tubular stem being positioned in said circular opening in the wall, and being secured to the wall;  
       a collar at one end of said stem, said collar having an end surface in contact with the wall, about the opening in the wall; and  
       a nut receptor endwise outwardly of the collar, said nut receptor having a nut receiving base, said nut receiving base having diametrically opposite edge portions that project radially outwardly from and radially overhang said collar, said edge portions being spaced axially away from said wall; and  
       a clip-on nut, comprising:  
       a nut-element retainer having a base with a bottom and a pair of side clips extending axially downwardly from the bottom of the base at diametrically opposite locations on said retainer, each said side clip including a radially inwardly projecting catch, said catches being spaced axially a predetermined distance from said base; and  
       a nut-element on said nut-element retainer, said nut-element being secured to the nut-element retainer by elements allowing the nut-element to float in position radially a limited amount relative to the nut-element retainer,  
       whereby the nut mount is connected to the wall, with its tubular stem within the circular opening in the wall, and then the clip-on nut is placed onto the nut receptor and is clipped onto the nut mount by means of the catches on the side clips engaging underneath portions of the opposite edge portions of the receptor.  
     
     
       20. A combination of claim  19 , wherein the nut receiving base of the nut mount includes nut retaining flanges on the nut receiving base, said flanges projecting axially from edge portions of the base, in a direction opposite the stem, whereby the clip-on nut is placed on the nut receiving base between said flanges. 
     
     
       21. The combination of claim  19 , wherein said wall has a convex surface directed toward the nut mount, and the end surface of the collar is convex where it contacts the concave surface of the wall. 
     
     
       22. The combination of claim  19 , wherein the nut retainer includes a sealed housing that extends axially from the nut retainer base, in a direction opposite from said side clips, and said nut-element is within said sealed housing, and said nut retainer base includes an annular seal disposed on the underneath side of said base, between the two side clips. 
     
     
       23. The combination of claim  19 , wherein the nut-element includes a nut-element base and an internally threaded tubular portion projecting upwardly from said nut-element base, and wherein said nut-element retainer includes retainer elements which engage the nut-element and secure it to the nut-element retainer in a manner allowing it to float in position radially a limited amount. 
     
     
       24. The combination of claim  23 , wherein the side clips are downwardly turned flange portions of the base of the nut-element retainer, and said catches are inwardly bent portions of said flange portions. 
     
     
       25. The combination of claim  19 , wherein the side clips are downwardly bent flange portions of the base of the nut-element retainer. 
     
     
       26. The combination of claim  25 , wherein the catches are inwardly turned portions of said flange portions of the base of the nut-element retainer. 
     
     
       27. A bolt mount that is connectable to a wall by use of a single circular stem opening in the wall, said bolt mount comprising: 
       a tubular stem having an outside diameter sized for close-fit insertion into said circular stem opening in said wall, and an inside diameter;  
       a collar at one end of said stem that is larger in diameter than said stem, said collar having an end surface positioned to be in contact with said wall, about said stem opening in said wall, when the stem is within said stem opening in said wall; and  
       a bolt receptor endwise outwardly of the collar, said bolt receptor having a bolt receiving base, said base having diametrically opposite side edge portions that project radially outwardly from and radially overhang said collar, said edge portions being positioned to be spaced axially away from said wall when the stem is within said opening in said wall and the end surface of the collar is in contact with said wall about the opening in said wall,  
       whereby following connection of the bolt mount to the wall, with said stem positioned within said stem opening of said wall, a clip-on bolt having side clips can be placed on the bolt receiving base of said bolt receptor and by said clips be clipped onto said edge portions of said bolt receptor.  
     
     
       28. A bolt mount according to claim  27 , wherein the bolt receptor is substantially square, has a flat end surface and four edge surfaces, and a central opening of the same diameter as the inside diameter of the tubular stem. 
     
     
       29. A clip-on bolt, comprising: 
       a bolt-element retainer having a base and a pair of side clips extending axially downwardly from the base at diametrically opposite locations on said retainer, each said side clip including a radially inwardly projecting catch, said catches being spaced axially a predetermined distance from said base; and  
       a bolt-element on said bolt-element retainer, said bolt-element being secured to the bolt-element retainer but allowed to float in position radially a limited amount,  
       whereby the clip-on bolt can be placed onto a bolt receptor and be clipped onto diametrically opposite edge portions of the bolt receptor, with the catches engaging underneath portions of said edge portions of the receptor.  
     
     
       30. A wall bolt assembly, comprising: 
       a bolt mount that is connectable to a wall by use of a single circular opening in the wall, said bolt mount comprising:  
       a tubular stem having an outside diameter sized for close fit insertion into the circular opening in the wall, and an inside diameter;  
       a collar at one end of said stem, said collar having an end surface positioned to be in contact with the wall, about the opening in the wall, when the stem is within the opening in the wall;  
       a bolt receptor on said bolt mount, endwise outwardly of the collar, said bolt receptor having a base, said base having diametrically opposite side portions that radially overhang said collar, said edge portions being positioned to be spaced axially outwardly from the wall when the stem is within said opening in the wall and the end surface of the collar is in contact with the wall about the opening in the wall; and  
       a clip-on bolt, comprising:  
       a bolt-element retainer having a base and a pair of side clips extending axially downwardly from the base at diametrically opposite locations on said retainer, each said side clip including a radially inwardly projecting catch, said catches being spaced axially from said base a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the bolt receiving base of the bolt receptor on the bolt mount; and  
       a bolt-element on said bolt-element retainer, said bolt-element being secured to the bolt-element retainer but allowed to float in position radially a limited amount, said bolt-element having a threaded bolt shank that extends from the bolt receptor into the tubular stem,  
       whereby the bolt mount may be connected to a wall, with the tubular stem within a circular opening in the wall, and the clip-on bolt can be placed onto the bolt receptor and be clipped onto the diametrically opposite edge portions of the bolt receptor, with the catches engaging underneath portions of said edge portions of the receptor, for holding the clip-on bolt onto the bolt mount, with the threaded bolt shank located within the tubular stem.  
     
     
       31. A fastener mount that is connectable to a wall by use of a single circular opening in the wall, said fastener mount comprising: 
       a tubular stem having an outside diameter sized for close-fit insertion into the circular opening in the wall, and an inside diameter;  
       a collar at one end of said stem that is larger in diameter that said stem, said collar having an end surface positioned to be in contact with the wall, about the opening in the wall, when the stem is within the opening in the wall; and  
       a fastener receptor positioned endwise of the collar, opposite the stem, said fastener receptor having a fastener receiving base spaced axially from said end surface of said collar, said base having diametrically opposite edge portions that project radially outwardly, from and radially overhang said collar, said edge portions being positioned to be spaced axially away from the wall when the stem is within said opening in the wall and the end surface of the collar is in contact with the wall about the opening in the wall,  
       said fastener receptor having an open axial avenue in to said fastener receiving base on the side of the base opposite the stem,  
       whereby following connection of the fastener mount to the wall, with the stem positioned within the opening in the wall, and the end surface of the collar contacting said wall, a clip-on fastener having side clips can be moved axially onto the fastener receiving base of said fastener receptor and by said clips be clipped onto said edge portions of said fastener receptor.  
     
     
       32. For use with a fastener element receptor having a base, a pair of diametrically opposite edge portions, and an open axial avenue in to said base, a clip-on fastener-element comprising: 
       a fastener-element retainer having a base with a bottom and a pair of side clips extending axially downwardly from the bottom of the base at diametrically opposite locations on said retainer, each said side clip including a radically inwardly projecting catch, said catches being spaced axially a predetermined distance from said base; and  
       a fastener-element on said fastener-element retainer, said fastener-element being secured to the fastener-element retainer by elements allowing the fastener-element to float in position radially a limited amount relative to the fastener-element retainer,  
       whereby a fastener-element can be placed onto a fastener-element receptor and be moved axially onto the base of said fastener receptor, clips first, and be clipped onto diametrically opposite edge portions of the fastener-element receptor, with the catches engaging underneath portions of said edge portions of the receptor.  
     
     
       33. A fastener-element wall mount assembly, comprising: 
       a fastener-element mount that is connected to a wall by use of a single circular stem opening in the wall, said fastener-element mount comprising:  
       a tubular stem having an outside diameter sized for close-fit insertion into said circular stem opening in said wall, and an inside opening;  
       a collar at one end of said stem, said collar having an end surface positioned to be in contact with said wall, about said stem opening in said wall, when said stem is within said stem opening in said wall;  
       a fastener-element receptor endwise outwardly of the collar, said fastener-element receptor having a base, said base having diametrically opposite edge portions that project radially outwardly from and radially overhang said collar, said edge portions being positioned to be spaced axially outwardly from said wall when the stem is within said stem opening in said wall and the end surface of the collar is in contact with said wall about the stem opening in said wall; and  
       a clip-on fastener-element, comprising:  
       a fastener-element retainer having a base with a bottom and a pair of side clips extending axially downwardly from the bottom of the base at diametrically opposite locations on said retainer, each said side clip including a radially inwardly projecting catch, said catches being spaced axially from said base a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said fastener-element receiving base of said fastener-element receptor; and  
       a fastener-element receptor on the fastener-element mount; and  
       a fastener-element on said fastener-element retainer, said fastener-element being secured to the fastener-element retainer by elements allowing the fastener-element to float in position radially a limited relative to the fastener-element retainer,  
       whereby said fastener-element mount may be connected to a wall with said tubular stem within a circular stem opening in said wall, and said clip-on fastener-element can be placed onto said fastener-element receptor and be clipped onto said diametrically opposite edge portions of the fastener-element receptor, with said catches engaging underneath portions of said edge portions of the fastener-element receptor, for holding said clip-on nut onto said fastener-element mount.